ANDREY Kuznetsov expects to have “good chances” to beat Andy Murray in the opening round of the French Open today.
The Russian world No 73 will provide the first test of Murray’s fragile confidence at Roland Garros after a season of struggle for the world No 1.
Murray arrived in Paris having lost back-to-back matches to Borna Coric and Fabio Fognini and looking a shadow of the player who reached his first final here 12 months ago.
Kuznetsov, meanwhile, has had a good clay season and made the semi-finals of the Geneva Open last week before pushing Stan Wawrinka.
The former Wimbledon junior champion said: “I’ve had a pretty successful last week and I’ve won a few good matches. I played a tough, tough match against Stan Wawrinka, who is also a very top player.
“I understand, of course, that Andy is the favourite of this match but I think I will have chances tomorrow, good chances. I think I prepared pretty good for this tournament.
“For me it’s a good experience to play against a world No 1. If I win, I will be a hero. If I lose, nobody will be surprised. Nothing to lose for me.”
Murray and Kuznetsov have met twice before, with the Scot winning on both occasions.
Kuznetsov won a set at the US Open in 2014 but just three games when their paths crossed again in Beijing last autumn.
Murray was at the start of the remarkable 24-match winning streak that took him to the top of the rankings.
“In Beijing, Andy was playing very good and he was on fire, beating everybody,” said Kuznetsov.
“If you maybe see the results he showed on clay (this year), maybe it’s not his best as he showed last year. A few guys like Coric, for example, beat him in Madrid. It shows that it’s possible to beat him.
“But of course I understand that the big guys are preparing for the big tournaments to play good here, so maybe it was part of the plan”
Even on top form, Murray has often struggled to win matches comfortably at Roland Garros.
Last year he had to come from behind to win in five sets in both his opening two contests against Radek Stepanek and Mathias Bourgue.
Murray’s preparations this year have also been disrupted by illness, but Kuznetsov is expecting the top seed to be fit and firing.
“Everybody always has something,” said the 26-year-old. “I’m sure that he will compete tomorrow 100 per cent. If in the middle of the match he will retire, I will be just happy.”
Kuznetsov has had major changes in his tennis career over the past 18 months having largely stopped working with his father Alexander.
The Russian, who is now based in Barcelona at the 4Slam academy, said: “He gave me a lot. He was my coach for about 18 or 19 years, since I was a kid, and he taught me everything that I still do.
“He said that he did not want to travel that much and also we were arguing a lot – like father and son – and it was not so easy as a coach.
“It is a bit easier a relationship now.”
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